Code of Conduct for Councillors

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when the revisions to the Code of Conduct for Councillors are expected to be introduced.

Phil Woolas: We intend to consult on a draft revised code of conduct for local authority members later this year, with the view, subject to the outcome of this consultation, to implementing an amended code next year.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition Cameras

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how data captured by Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras is stored; who has access to the data; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: Three of Department for Transport's Agencies operate Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems, DVLA, VOSA, and Highways Agency.
	Data from DVLA's ANPR cameras is used solely by DVLA for VED enforcement. In addition, DVLA complies in all respects with the BSI code of practice on the storage of digital evidence, which covers the secure handling of data through the use of access controls and tight audit trails.
	Data from VOSA's eight mobile ANPR cameras is used solely by VOSA for intelligence gathering to enable targeted enforcement. VOSA hold 11 databases such as test certificate and O licence that are used to identify non-compliant operators. Intelligence gathered is encrypted and saved to disk then down loaded to the back office function. Access is via a decryption key held by the Intelligence officer. In addition, VOSA complies in all respects with the BSI code of practice on the storage of digital evidence, which covers the secure handling of data through the use of access controls and tight audit trails.
	The ANPR data gathered by the ANPR cameras operated by the National Traffic Control Centre (NTCC) has two characters dropped from the number plate before being encrypted, creating a depersonalised record, which is transmitted back to the NTCC. Once this has been matched to a record from an adjacent camera or a defined period has lapsed the data is deleted. The only information being retained being the average journey time for that section at that time. No one has access to the full number plate data.
	There are 108 ANPR cameras around the Birmingham box (M5, M6 and M42). 63 feed to roadside readers which are downloaded by consultants working for the HA. The information is used for traffic flow monitoring, journey time reliability and performance monitoring of schemes such as the M42 Active Traffic Management Scheme. The HA is only given reports and depersonalised information.
	45 further cameras feed back to the West Midlands Police Control Office (who are the data owner) and the HA is provided with depersonalised data for traffic management purposes.

Bicycle Accidents

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many accidents involving bicycles were reported on  (a) roads and  (b) pavements in(i) Kingston and Surbiton constituency, (ii) South West London and (iii) London in each year since 1997.

Stephen Ladyman: The number of personal injury accidents reported to the police involving one or more bicycles, by whether the bicycles were on the road or the pavement at the time of the accident, in (i) the constituency of Kingston and Surbiton (ii) the strategic health authority of South West London (iii) and London for 1997 to 2004 (the latest year for which figures are available) are shown in the table.
	
		
			  Personal injury accidents involving one or more bicycles: by location of the bicycle: 1997-2004 
			   Kingston and Surbiton Constituency( 1)  Strategic Health Authority of South West London( 4)  London 
			   Road( 2)  Pavement( 2)  All( 3)  Road( 2)  Pavement( 2)  All( 3)  Road( 2)  Pavement( 2)  All 
			 1997 71 4 75 744 20 764 4,427 56 4,482 
			 1998 71 3 74 871 36 707 4,232 125 4,357 
			 1999 70 5 75 681 36 717 4,147 99 4,246 
			 2000 48 2 50 523 21 544 3,503 67 3,570 
			 2001 43 4 47 474 24 498 3,289 83 3,372 
			 2002 33 3 36 468 21 489 3,028 77 3,105 
			 2003 35 4 39 445 19 464 3,046 79 3,125 
			 2004 43 2 45 480 23 503 2,945 76 3,021 
			 (1 )The accidents in these columns are those that occurred in the 2004 boundary for Kingston and Surbiton constituency.  (2) There is the possibility of double counting between these rows if an accident involved two or more bicycles and at least one was on the pavement and at least one was on the road.  (3) Includes accidents where it is not known whether the bicycle(s) involved were on the pavement or the road.  (4 )The Strategic Health Authority of South West London, comprises of the London Boroughs of Croydon, Kingston-upon-Thames, Richmond-upon-Thames, Sutton, Merton and Wandsworth.

Red Traffic Signals

Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what assessment he has made of the impact on road casualties of adopting a policy of allowing vehicles likely to make a left turn at red traffic signals.

Stephen Ladyman: The proposal for 'turn left on red' is not considered suitable for traffic management purposes in this country.
	Although there are similarities between the road traffic signalling systems in the UK and abroad, there are also differences. Many other countries use fixed time signals, where the green period is based on average flows. These periods will not necessarily be proportional to the actual flow. 'Turn right (left) on red' is often used to overcome resultant delays. The majority in the UK are either vehicle actuated or connected to an Urban Traffic Control system using 'live' information. Timings are proportional to the flow and 'turn left on red' would not afford the same advantage.
	There are also differences in junction type. Where 'turn right (left) on red' is used, for example in the United States, most junctions have good visibility between side and main road traffic. Many junctions in the UK have poor intervisibility because of existing buildings and the junction geometry. Any uncontrolled movements from the side road would involve increased risks and an increased accident potential at the junction.
	Also, in the UK many pedestrian phases display a green figure on the 'side road' while a red is shown to the 'main road'. Allowing vehicles to turn left on red would pose increased risks to all pedestrians, especially vulnerable road users such as blind and partially sighted pedestrians, who are often given audible and/or tactile signals as an indication that all conflicting vehicular movements have stopped.
	Studies in the mid-1970's, in six states of the USA where 'turn right on red' was introduced, showed that pedestrian and cyclist accidents increased, ranging from 48 per cent. to 123 per cent. Vulnerable groups showed the greatest increase.

Register of Number Plate Suppliers

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport under what legislation the Register of Number Plate Suppliers was introduced and is maintained; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: The Register of Number Plate Suppliers was introduced in the vehicles (Crime) Act 2001 (VGA) and is maintained by the same legislation. The Road Safety Bill currently going through Parliament will amend the VGA by extending the scheme to Scotland and Northern Ireland, giving the Secretary of State enforcement powers to prosecute errant suppliers and outlawing so called "show plates".

Alcohol/Drugs

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps are being taken to encourage a no drug policy in schools.

Jim Knight: "Drugs: Guidance for Schools" issued to all schools by the Department in March 2004 makes clear that drugs have no place in schools. The guidance outlines a range of strategies, including drug testing of pupils, which schools can adopt to ensure a drug free school. We also expect that all schools should have a drug policy available to all pupils and parents. We have made clear that where pupils are permanently excluded for supplying an illegal drug, the Secretary of State would not normally expect the governing body or the independent appeal panel to reinstate the pupil. We will also be conducting an evaluation study of drug testing in maintained schools.
	The standards in the DfES guidance are supported by the Government-funded certification programme for teachers of Personal Social and Health Education and by the National Healthy School Programme.

GCSEs

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what proportion of GCSE students in  (a) the London borough of Havering and  (b) other London boroughs achieved five or moreC grades or higher in 2004-05.

Jim Knight: 61.2 per cent. of pupils at the end of Key Stage 4 achieved five or more GCSEs or equivalents(1) at grades A* to C in 2005 in the London borough of Havering. The following table shows the proportion in other London boroughs.
	
		
			  Government office region( 2) —local authority  Number of end of Key Stage 4 pupils  Percentage of pupils achieving 5+ A*-C grades 
			 London 72,954 55.5 
			
			 Inner London 22,678 50.4 
			 Camden 1,443 51.8 
			 Hackney 1,289 47.3 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham 1,146 59.0 
			 Haringey 2,106 47.7 
			 Islington 1,376 44.2 
			 Kensington and Chelsea 579 61.8 
			 Lambeth 1,375 53.0 
			 Lewisham 2,207 49.4 
			 Newham 3,234 51.0 
			 Southwark 2,239 47.2 
			 Tower Hamlets 2,445 50.9 
			 Wandsworth 1,857 54.1 
			 Westminster 1,382 46.8 
			
			 Outer London 50,276 57.8 
			 Barking and Dagenham 1,938 50.8 
			 Barnet 3,380 64.1 
			 Bexley 3,252 57.5 
			 Brent 2,638 57.3 
			 Bromley 3,502 64.0 
			 Croydon 3,725 54.5 
			 Ealing 2,586 59.5 
			 Enfield 3,534 51.7 
			 Greenwich 2,493 45.7 
			 Harrow 2,171 61.9 
			 Havering 3,021 61.2 
			 Hillingdon 2,934 51.0 
			 Hounslow 2,613 57.9 
			 Kingston upon Thames 1,467 67.6 
			 Merton 1,531 47.1 
			 Redbridge 2,968 70.0 
			 Richmond upon Thames 1,495 54.9 
			 Sutton 2,470 68.0 
			 Waltham Forest 2,558 49.1 
			 (1) Includes all equivalences approved for use pre 16.  (2) Local authority and Government office region level figures only cover maintained schools.

Teachers

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on teacher retention in the London borough of Havering.

Jim Knight: There were 2,050 full-time equivalent teachers in maintained schools in Havering in January 2005, compared to 1,870 full-time equivalent teachers in 1997. In January 2005, there were 13 full-time vacancies in Havering, or 1.4 per cent. of full-time teachers in post in the maintained sector. In January 1997, there were nine full-time teacher posts vacant, or 0.5 per cent. of full-time teachers in post.
	Significant increases in London teachers' pay, including doubling the threshold payment in 2003 for good experienced teachers in London, have provided a clear incentive for teachers to stay in the capital. Since 2004, school teachers in London have been able to use interest free loans of up to £100,000 through the Key Worker Living Initiative to help them afford the cost of homes. 1,800 teachers were helped to buy homes between April 2004 and March 2006 under the scheme which continues until 2008.

Africa (Corruption)

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent discussions he has had with African (a) leaders and  (b) parliamentarians regarding corruption in Africa; and if he will make a statement.

Hilary Benn: Corruption is a serious problem in much of Africa. DFID is supporting a wide range of activities to help countries detect and take action against corruption. Some of the recent discussions I have had with African leaders and parliamentarians about corruption are outlined below.
	When I visited the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in October 2005, the main focus was to urge the Congolese Government to tackle corruption—particularly within the army pay system.
	I had frank discussions with President Kibaki of Kenya about corruption when I visited in January 2006. Since then some steps, including the removal of three senior ministers, has taken place in response to public pressure following the release of the Githongo dossier and Goldenberg report. This is an encouraging start but Kenyans are calling for more to be done. When I met President Kibaki again recently, I stressed the importance of continued progress in the corruption investigations. I have also met with several Kenyan Members of Parliament (MPs) to discuss progress on corruption and specifically the Public Accounts Committee report on the so-called Anglo-Leasing affair.
	I met President Kagame and Ministers in Rwanda in November 2005. Discussions focused on the Rwanda-UK Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which covers corruption among other issues.
	When visiting Tanzania in May 2006, President Kikwete and I focused discussions on corruption and growth. Following progress made by his predecessor Benjamin Mpaka, President Kikwete is determined to improve governance and tackle high level corruption.
	I met President Museveni when I visited Uganda in May 2006. I discussed the President's commitment to tackle corruption made in his election manifesto and subsequent public statements.
	President Mwanawasa of Zambia and I met in February 2005 and emphasised the importance of continued commitment to combating corruption and continuing improvement of public financial management.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what discussions he has had with Jan Egelund, the UN emergency relief co-ordinator, on the impact of the security situation in Darfur on the humanitarian situation there.

Hilary Benn: I spoke to Jan Egeland recently about the situation in Darfur, and he has also briefed my officials both in Sudan and at the UN in Geneva following his most recent visit. I very much share his concern about the deteriorating security situation there, which has worsened dramatically since January, with increasing levels of banditry, armed clashes and attacks on civilians and UN and NGO staff. The rising level of insecurity threatens to reverse progress made in 2005. Over the last four months alone, 250,000 people have been driven from their homes by the violence. The ability of the UN and NGOs to access the most vulnerable people is becoming a critical issue with no or very limited access to up to 650,000 people in Darfur.
	In recent weeks we have seen encouraging steps forward with the signing of the Darfur Peace Agreement (DPA), and the more recent announcement from the Government of Sudan agreeing a joint African Union/United Nations Technical Assessment Mission to travel to Darfur. Stabilising security in Darfur is crucial if the DPA is to succeed. A UN force would build on the achievements already made by the African Union's Peacekeeping Mission in Darfur (AMIS).

World Trade

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent discussions he has had with other EU Trade Ministers on the current World Trade Organisation negotiations.

Alistair Darling: The Government remain fully committed to securing an ambitious, pro-development outcome to the Doha Development Agenda (DDA). Both I and my predecessors have had regular contact with the EU Trade Commissioner, our counterparts in other EU member states, with the Director General of the WTO and with the Trade Ministers of other WTO member countries.

Thorpe Plant

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has become of the liquid recovered as part of the clean up at Thorpe Processing Plant completed on 14 June 2005; to where has it been removed; by what means; what the cost of the operation was; and whether this cost was met from the NIREX budget.

Malcolm Wicks: The dissolver liquor that leaked from an accountancy tank in the THORP feed clarification cell was contained within a designed secondary containment system. The liquor was later pumped to downstream vessels where it remains pending subsequent processing. The work was carried out by British Nuclear Group on behalf of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA). The costs associated with the temporary closure due to the incident will be the subject of an insurance claim by the NDA.

Information Technology

Christopher Huhne: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on information technology (IT) sourced from outside his Department in each of the last five years; who is responsible for such projects in his Department; and what IT (a) expertise and  (b) qualifications they possess.

Adam Ingram: The Ministry of Defence's spend on information technology (IT) sourced from outside the Department in each of the last five years is given in the following table.
	
		
			  £ million 
			  Financial year  Operating costs?IT  (excluding calls and line rental, etc)  Capitalised asset additions—IT and comms equipment 
			 2000-01 403,500 35,371 
			 2001-02 325,347 87,490 
			 2002-03 474,815 95,886 
			 2003-04 561,266 183,309 
			 2004-05 547,672 134,466 
		
	
	Information on the departmental spend on IT and Telecommunications operating costs and assets is published each year in the Departmental Annual Accounts.
	The Director General Information acts as the Department's Chief Information Officer and sets policy for how the Department exploits information, as well as being Senior Responsible Owner (SRO) for several of MOD's largest IT programmes. The chief executive of the Defence Communications Services Agency is responsible for the organisation which procures the majority of the Department's IT. In addition to their own experience in delivering results in Government, the incumbents of these senior posts are supported by experts with the appropriate expertise and qualifications in specialist areas. All major programmes will have an SRO appointed who is responsible for delivery of that programme.

Porton Down

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  pursuant to the answer of 8 May 2006,  Official Report, column 41W, on Porton Down, how many of the experiments were  (a) wholly and (b) partly commissioned by (i) UK companies, (ii) foreign companies and (iii) foreign Governments; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  how much income was generated for the Department from undertaking animal experiments at Porton Down on contract for other  (a) Governments and  (b) private sector organisations;
	(3)  if he will list the  (a) UK companies,  (b) foreign companies and  (c) foreign Governments with whom the results of animal experiments at Porton Down were shared; and if he will make a statement.

Adam Ingram: The remit of the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) at Porton Down is to undertake research on behalf of the UK Government.
	Dstl participates in International Collaborative Programmes with other allied nations on behalf of the Ministry of Defence. These are conducted under signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to ensure the free and open exchange of information between the participating nations. Dstl is not a commercial contract organisation but does accept commercial contracts where these support MOD's wider programmes.
	All research work undertaken as part of these collaborative programmes is closely aligned to supporting, complementing and enhancing the MOD research programme. This exchange of information will include research involving the use of animals. This assists the advancement of the International research programmes and prevents the duplication of research funding. The participation by Dstl in these International Collaborative initiatives means that some aspects of the research programme will receive funding through foreign Governments, or their contractors. The research involving the use of animals is only a small sub-set of the overall collaborative research programme and is not accounted for separately.
	In conducting any animal research, Dstl fully complies with all of the legislative requirements that are placed on research organisations licensed to undertake research involving animals, under the terms of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 as administered by the Home Office. This compliance includes a full ethical review of the proposed work where the benefits of saving lives have to justify the use of animals in research. This ethical review also ensures that there is no unnecessary duplication of animal-based research.
	Dstl submits the results of its scientific research to peer?reviewed open literature publications wherever possible. It is estimated that, security concerns included, 95 per cent. of Dstl research is published in the public domain. These publication figures include research involving the use of animals. Therefore, the results of the research, the development of techniques and alternatives are available to all researchers to review, regardless of which country they work in or whether they are employed in the commercial or Government sector.

Second World War POWs

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what steps his Department has taken to assess the need for support of the survivors of the British Army who were recruited from the Indian subcontinent and who were taken prisoner of war on the Western Front in the second world war;
	(2)  what arrangements are in place for support and financial assistance for members of the British Army who were recruited from the Indian subcontinent and who were taken prisoner of war on the Western Front in the second world war;
	(3)  what discussions have taken place between the Government and the Indian Government on the situation faced by members of the British Army who were recruited from the Indian subcontinent and who were taken prisoner of war on the Western Front in the second world war;
	(4)  what recent representations his Department has received with regard to the need for support and financial assistance to surviving members of the British Army recruited from the Indian subcontinent and who were taken prisoner of war on the Western Front in the second world war;
	(5)  what recent representations he has received on the support and financial assistance provided to former members of the British Army recruited from the Indian subcontinent and who were taken as prisoners of war by Japan in the second world war;
	(6)  what arrangements his Department has put in place in liaison with the Indian Government to assess the needs of the surviving members of the British Army recruited from the Indian subcontinent who were taken as prisoners of war by Japan in the second world war;
	(7)  what support and financial assistance has been provided to former members of the British Army recruited from the Indian subcontinent and who were taken as prisoners of war by Japan in the second world war.

Tom Watson: The responsibility for meeting the needs of former members of the Indian Army who were taken as prisoners of war in the second world war generally passed to the Governments of the countries of which they became nationals when they gained independence in 1947.
	Personnel recruited into the British armed forces from the Indian subcontinent and held as prisoners of war by the Japanese may be eligible for a payment under the United Kingdom's November 2000 Ex Gratia Scheme for far east prisoners of war in the following cases:
	former members of the Indian Army who were British subjects at the time when they became prisoners of war and who have since the war resided in the UK for at least 20 years;
	members of UK-based units, including those that were locally recruited such as the Hong Kong and Singapore Royal Artillery (many of the latter were recruited in what is now Pakistan); and
	members of certain other former colonial forces who had qualified for a payment under a 1950s compensation scheme based on liquidated Japanese assets.
	Nepali Gurkhas who were held as prisoners of war by the Japanese have also received payments from the Ex Gratia Scheme.
	I am aware of no recent discussions between the UK and Indian Governments on the problems faced by former Indian Army prisoners of war but each year the Department receives a number of communications from former members of the Indian Army who face financial hardship and inquire whether they are entitled to any financial support from the UK. We have no record as to whether these may have been held as prisoners of war during world war two.

Departmental Legislation

David Amess: To ask the Solicitor-General if he will list those  (a) Acts and  (b) parts of Acts which received Royal Assent between 1976 and 2006 for which his Department has policy responsibility and which remain in force.

Mike O'Brien: The Law Officers have responsibility for the following Acts or parts of Acts:
	The Law Officers Act 1997
	The Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate Act 2000
	Those parts of the Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 which establish the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office.
	The Law Officers also share responsibility with other criminal justice Ministers for a range of criminal justice legislation and take the lead on issues arising from the Prosecution of Offences Act 1985 and the Criminal Justice Act 1987.

Prosecutors/Crime Victims (Dialogue)

Ian Austin: To ask the Solicitor-General what mechanisms are in place to encourage and facilitate dialogue between prosecutors and victims of crime.

Mike O'Brien: There are two key mechanisms in place to encourage and facilitate dialogue between prosecutors and victims of crime. The Prosecutors Pledge sets out the level of service that victims of crime can expect to receive from prosecutors. This includes; promoting and encouraging two-way communication between victims and prosecutors at court, and keeping victims informed of the progress of any appeal and explaining the effects of the court's judgment.
	In addition, the Code of Practice for Victims of Crime sets out the minimum level of service that victims of crime can expect to receive. The code, which was launched in April this year, places obligations on prosecutors to inform victims about charging decisions and communicating with victims at court.

Biological Diversity

Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales which Minister in his Department is responsible for monitoring his Department's compliance with its duty under section 74 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 to have regard to the purpose of conserving biological diversity in carrying out its functions; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Hain: Under section 74 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, Ministers and Government Departments have a duty to have regard to the purpose of conserving biological diversity. This has been replaced by a similar provision in section 40 of the Natural Environment and Rural CommunitiesAct 2006 which comes into effect on the 1 October 2006.
	In June 2003, the Wales Office became a separate entity within the Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) and we have adopted the DCA corporate policy for sustainable development. The department remains committed to ensuring that biodiversity is considered as part of any new build or major refurbishment. My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Nick Ainger) has lead responsibility for sustainability issues in the Wales Office.

Big Lottery Fund

Mark Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what discussions she has had with the Big Lottery Fund regarding the future classification of lottery good causes after 2009.

Richard Caborn: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have discussions from time to time with the chair and chief executive of the Big Lottery Fund. We cover a range of issues but have not focussed on the future classification of lottery good causes after 2009.

Departmental Pensions

Robert Wilson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport if she will estimate the pension liability of her Department over the next30 years.

David Lammy: I refer the hon. Member to the technical Note by HM Treasury which was placed in the Library of the House following an oral statement in Parliament by the then Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 2 March 2006,  Official Report, columns 388-390. Pension liabilities are not estimated for individual Departments, they are estimated for individual pension schemes. Table 1 of the Note gives a breakdown of liabilities per pension scheme.

Illegal Immigrants

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many illegal immigrants have been discovered to be employed by her Department in each year since 2001; in what capacities they were employed; how many were discovered as part of a criminal investigation; and what the nature was of the charges brought against them.

David Lammy: No illegal immigrants have been discovered to be employed directly by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport since 2001. This includes staff on fixed term appointments and casual contracts, but excludes agency workers, contractors and consultants.

The Public (West Bromwich)

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport pursuant to the answer of22 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1412W, to the hon. Member for Stourbridge (Lynda Waltho), on The Public (West Bromwich), on what basis the decision was made that the payments by Arts Council England to Robin and Gorringe are commercial in confidence.

David Lammy: The decision that payments made by the Arts Council to the firm Robin and Gorringe should be treated as commercially sensitive was based on our consideration of the ongoing and complex discussions that are underway between the administrators and contractors at The Public. These are aimed at achieving completion of the building project. It was our judgement that publishing this information could be detrimental to the conduct of these discussions and consequently disrupt the process of completing the building project and removing The Public from administration. The information was therefore judged too commercially sensitive to be published at this time.

Pay Equality

Barbara Keeley: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what steps she is taking to address the gap between men's and women's pay.

Meg Munn: The Government have set up a team of officials who are working across Government to take forward the Women and Work Commission recommendations on ways to tackle the gender pay gap and an action plan will be issued later this year. I will also Chair a Project Board of senior officials.

Election Candidates

Sarah McCarthy-Fry: To ask the Minister for Women and Equality what her assessment is of the progress being made towards more women being selected to contest seats in general elections.

Meg Munn: We introduced in 2002 the Sex Discrimination (Election Candidates) Act which allows positive measures designed to ensure greater equality in the selection of prospective parliamentary candidates.
	The Labour party was able to increase the percentage of women MPs in the last general election by using all-women shortlists to select candidates in its retirement seats.
	By contrast the Liberal Democrat party and the Conservative party respectively only selected 32 per cent. and 12 per cent. of women candidates for their50 most winnable seats.

Central Government Funding

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what the total value was of central Government funding in Northern Ireland in each of the past 30 years at today's prices.

David Hanson: The difference between Government expenditure and revenue attributed to Northern Ireland has been estimated on an occasional basis since the late 1990s. These estimates indicate that public expenditure exceeds taxes collected in Northern Ireland. The estimates of this funding shortfall, often referred to as the 'Fiscal Deficit', are set out in the following table.
	It is important to note that these estimates do not carry the imprimatur of official statistics as there are major difficulties in allocating revenue and expenditure across UK regions. The estimates for the earlier years in the table were based on the best data then available, which has been frequently revised since.
	
		
			  Estimated general Government expenditure and revenue in Northern Ireland 
			  £ billion 
			   Identified  Expenditure attributed( 1)  Total  Revenue  Fiscal deficit 
			  Current prices  
			 1995-96(2) 8.59 1.96 10.56 6.02 4.53 
			 1996-97 9.12 1.94 11.06 6.27 4.79 
			 1997-98 9.13 1.97 11.10 6.66 4.44 
			 1998-99 9.64 1.97 11.61 7.10 4.51 
			 1999-2000 10.03 2.00 12.03 7.38 4.65 
			 2000-01 10.80 2.15 12.96 7.86 5.09 
			 2001-02 11.81 2.07 13.88 7.94 5.94 
			 2002-03 12.70 2.37 15.07 8.09 6.97 
			 2003-04 13.53 2.48 16.01 9.11 6.90 
		
	
	
		
			  £ billion 
			   Identified  Expenditure attributed  Total  Revenue  Fiscal deficit 
			  2003-04 prices( 3)  
			 1995-96 10.53 2.41 12.94 7.38 5.55 
			 1996-97 10.80 2.29 13.09 7.42 5.67 
			 1997-98 10.50 2.26 12.76 7.66 5.11 
			 1998-99 10.80 2.20 13.01 7.96 5.06 
			 1999-2000 11.03 2.20 13.22 8.11 5.11 
			 2000-01 11.72 2.34 14.06 8.53 5.52 
			 2001-02 12.51 2.19 14.70 8.41 6.29 
			 2002-03 13.03 2.43 15.46 8.30 7.16 
			 2003-04 13.53 2.48 16.01 9.11 6.90 
			 (1) Attributed expenditure includes expenditure benefiting all parts of the UK as well as various accounting adjustments  (2) Data prior to 2000-01 were not produced on a consistent basis  (3) Using MM Treasury GDP deflator series

Carbon Management Programmes

Julie Kirkbride: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the list of change management and consultants undertaking carbon management programmes will be opened up to other consultants.

Ian Pearson: The Carbon Management Programme has been developed by the Carbon Trust. As the Trust is a private company, the management of contracts is a matter for its Board. Officials from the Carbon Trust will contact you direct about this.

Children's Services

Fraser Kemp: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many nursery and creche places are provided for people working in his Department; what charges are made for the provision of such services; and what other facilities are provided for the children of employees of her Department

Barry Gardiner: Defra is committed to childcare support both for the benefit of its staff but also as an essential element of addressing the Departmental business need Defra's childcare provision set out in the following table.
	Defra employees are able to use a salary sacrifice scheme to reduce their childcare costs by up to £243 per month.
	
		
			  Defra childcare provision and costings 2005-06 
			Full-time placement costs 
			  Childcare type/Location  Places  To users  Subsidy rates  Cost to Defra 2005-06 (forecast) 
			  Defra Workplace Nurseries 
			 York 44 £326 1(st) child £204 1(st) child £83,568 
			   £372 siblings monthly £158 siblings monthly  
			  
			 Guildford 40 £241-£398 monthly dependent on grade £154-£312 monthly dependent on grade £55,463 
			  
			  Subsidised places in external nurseries 
			 London 11 Costs vary dependent on nursery location £60 per week £42,182 
			 Bristol 3 Costs vary dependent on nursery location £60 per week £7,773 
			  
			  Discounted fees in external nurseries 
			 Newcastle London Dependant on demand 7 per cent. discount in chain of nurseries £0 £0 
			 London Dependant on demand 10 per cent. discount in chain of over 44 nurseries £0 £0 
			  
			  Holiday Playschemes 
			 London Dependant on demand £16.33 daily £8.67 £1,483 
			 Guildford Dependant on demand £12.60 daily £3.15-£16.90 dependent on number of children (1)£1,676 
			  
			 York Dependant on demand £12.47 1(st) child £5.61 1(st) child (1)£1,179 
			   £11.22 sibling £6.23 sibling  
			 (1 )February Playscheme 2006 costs estimated

Departmental Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what promotion boards have been held in his Department in each of the last five years.

Barry Gardiner: Most posts in Defra are filled on the basis of individual advertisements, in-house, across the civil service or as open competition, based on a competence based selection process. The aim is to obtain precise and verifiable information about when candidates have displayed the particular behaviours and expertise at the level required for the vacancy. There have only been two general promotion boards, in 2003 and in 2004, to fill a number of vacancies and projected vacancies in the senior civil service. Selection was also through a generic competence-based process, supported by psychometric and cognitive tests, a presentation and final panel interview.

Departmental Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many non-pensionable bonuses were awarded to members of his staff in each of the last three years; and at what total cost.

Barry Gardiner: Defra changed its payroll provider in November 2004. It would be disproportionate cost to report on the archived data prior to 2005-06.
	During the period 1 April 2005-31 March 2006, Defra paid 4362 non-pensionable bonuses at a cost of £3,356,845.67. This equates to 1.25 per cent. of the 2005-06 pay bill.
	These figures, taken from the Defra payroll also include agency staff in the: Pesticides Safety Directorate, State Veterinary Service, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Marine Fisheries Agency and Government Decontamination Service.

Departmental Staff

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff in his Department did not achieve an acceptable mark in their annual report in each of the last three years; and what percentage this represented of the total number of staff in each case.

Barry Gardiner: For 2003-04 17 staff (0.27 per cent.), and in 2004-05 18 staff (0.28 per cent.) were assessed as unacceptable. The 2005-06 annual appraisal exercise is on going.
	These figures are for staff in core Defra, the Pesticides Safety Directorate, State Veterinary Service, Veterinary Medicines Directorate, Marine Fisheries Agency and Government Decontamination Service.

Fox Hunting

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment he has made of the impact on rural communities of the ban on fox hunting; and if he will consider the merits of repealing the ban.

Barry Gardiner: The Government have no plans to repeal the Hunting Act 2004. Since the ban came into effect, evidence has shown that hunts are continuingto meet and ride within the law and that the dire consequences for rural communities predicted by opponents of the Act have not materialised.

Rural Development Programme

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what matched funding will be raised in 2006-07 to permit the rural development programme in England to be adequately funded;
	(2)  what steps he is taking to match fund modulation for farmers.

Barry Gardiner: During 2006, the England rural development programme will continue to be funded by EU rural development money from the European agricultural guidance and guarantee fund (EAGGF) and by transfers from Pillar 1 direct payments through voluntary modulation. Receipts from both of these funding sources will continue to be co-financed on an equal basis by the UK Exchequer and the EU.
	From 1 January 2007, a new rural development programming period will commence with slightly different rules. The EAGGF will be replaced by a new fund called the European agricultural fund for rural development (EAFRD). This will include funds transferred from the 5 per cent. compulsory modulation applied in the old EU-15 member states. Any money from this fund must be co-financed by the national exchequer. This will normally involve equal funding by the exchequer and the EU, although new rules allow this to be set at a ratio of 45 per cent. exchequer funding to 55 per cent. EU funding for some schemes.
	The December 2005 EU budget summit agreed that from 2007, member states could decide at what level to match-fund any receipts from voluntary modulation. However, final decisions have yet to be taken about the levels of voluntary modulation and co-financing which will apply during the period 2007-13.

Woodland Grant Scheme

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many applications from the  (a) private,  (b) not-for-profit and  (c) public sectors have been accepted under the woodland creation section of the England Woodland Grant Scheme in the last bidding round in each region; and what the (i) value of and (ii) area covered by each bid is.

Barry Gardiner: The Forestry Commission's English Woodland Grant Scheme was open for woodland creation grant applications between 18 July 2005 and 30 September 2005. In this period 596 applications were made and 448 met or exceeded the published scoring threshold and were accepted for processing. Of these 326 have resulted in signed grant scheme contracts. The remaining 122 were either withdrawn by the applicant or have outstanding technical or administrative issues to be resolved, including in some cases a final decision from the applicant as to whether they wish to proceed.
	The information on the accepted (i.e. met or exceeded the published scoring threshold) and approved applications by ownership type for each region and is given in the following tables.
	
		
			  Private Owners (Personal and Business Occupiers) 
			   Accepted for processing  Grant Scheme contract signed 
			  Region  Area (ha)  Number  Value (£000)  Area (ha)  Number  Value (£000) 
			 East of England 117 31 223 105 25 196 
			 East Midlands 214 28 463 142 23 293 
			 London 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North East 154 30 338 86 19 189 
			 North West 303 38 625 210 26 431 
			 South East 215 35 476 172 26 391 
			 South West 850 165 1,524 649 112 1,119 
			 West Midlands 123 22 232 96 17 177 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 259 37 527 198 26 405 
			 Total 2235 386 4,408 1658 274 3,201 
		
	
	
		
			  Not for Profit (Voluntary Organisation) 
			   Accepted for processing  Grant Scheme contract signed 
			  Region  Area (ha)  Number  Value (£000)  Area (ha)  Number  Value (£000) 
			 East of England 48 4 124 48 4 124 
			 East Midlands 6 3 13 6 3 13 
			 London 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North East 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North West 8 2 18 8 2 18 
			 South East 10 1 29 10 1 29 
			 South West 210 9 355 210 9 355 
			 West Midlands 2 1 3 2 1 3 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 25 1 70 0 0 0 
			 Total 309 21 612 284 20 542 
		
	
	
		
			  Public Sector (Government Department, Crown Estates, National Forest Company, Local Authority etc.) 
			   Accepted for processing  Grant Scheme contract signed 
			  Region  Area (ha)  Number  Value (£000)  Area (ha)  Number  Value (£000) 
			 East of England 9 4 22 4 3 9 
			 East Midlands 25 8 60 25 8 60 
			 London 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 North East 117 15 248 87 12 186 
			 North West 5 1 15 5 1 15 
			 South East 18 3 44 18 3 44 
			 South West 10 4 24 2 2 4 
			 West Midlands 17 6 46 8 3 23 
			 Yorkshire and Humber 0 0 0 0 0 0 
			 Total 201 41 459 149 32 341 
			  Note:   The Ownership type declared by the applicant is either: (a) Personal Occupier (b) Business Occupier (c) Voluntary Organisation (d) Government Department, Crown Estates, National Forest Company (e) Other Public e.g. Local Authority 
		
	
	These have been grouped into three categories in the tables.

Family Indefinite Leave to Remain Exercise

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals have been granted leave to remain under the Government's Family Indefinite Leave to Remain Exercise have had  (a) a claim for asylum refused and  (b) a claimfor asylum refused and exhausted their rights of appeal.

Liam Byrne: The requested information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost by examination of individual case records.

Foreign Prisoners

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what procedures the UK immigration service follows relevant to the handling of cases where a Scottish judge has recommended a foreign national on sentencing to be deported on release;
	(2)  what discussions his Department has had with the Scottish Prison Service on foreign national prisoners recommended for deportation who are serving their sentence in Scottish prison.

Liam Byrne: I refer to the written ministerial statement made by my right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary on 23 May.

Immigration/Asylum

Alistair Burt: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many asylum detainees who escaped from the Yarl's Wood detention centre on14 February 2002 have subsequently been detained.

Liam Byrne: Many records were burnt or destroyed on the night of the fire and, to the best of our knowledge, the following figures are correct. Of the 23 escapees16 have been relocated. Of these, nine have been removed, four re-detained (three of whom were subsequently released), one reported to Croydon enforcement unit voluntarily and was released and two were granted temporary release. The whereabouts of seven remain unknown. Decisions on the 16 were made in line with the casework criteria as it applies to their individual circumstances.

Immigration/Asylum

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the number of people arriving in the UK on student visas who  (a) returned and  (b) did not return to their country of origin upon completion of their studies in the last 5 years.

Liam Byrne: Following withdrawal of the control for passengers travelling to continental destinations from ferry ports and small/medium sized airports by then Government in 1994, the UK has had a diminished ability to record exit movements, and so such calculations are problematic.
	The e-Borders programme will soon use biometric data to record passenger movements at UK ports.

Individual Support Orders

Ann Coffey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  what assessment has been made of the reasons for the difference in the number of individual support orders and antisocial behaviour orders issued;
	(2)  what account he expects the courts to take of the mandatory nature of individual support orders when issuing antisocial behaviour orders;
	(3)  how much has been provided to fund individual support orders since they were introduced;
	(4)  how much funding for individual support orders has been allocated, broken down by local authority; and how much such funding has been spent, broken down by authority;
	(5)  whether there are any plans for further funding for individual support orders beyond that already allocated.

Tony McNulty: Individual support orders (ISOs) can be attached to stand alone antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) for 10-17 year olds.
	We are working with the Youth Justice Board and HM Court Service to increase the take-up of ISOs, and we are starting to see encouraging signs of wider use. This includes actively promoting their use to all interested parties at antisocial behaviour-related events and updating advice and guidance. We are implementing a Home Office/Youth Justice Board/HM Courts Service action plan and as part of this we have just completed a series of meetings with Youth Offending Teams to ascertain views on barriers to take up and to see what needs to be done to encourage increased numbers. We are currently examining the information from these meetings but initial soundings are that ISOs are a popular measure with those people who have been consulted.
	When considering making a stand-alone ISO on a young person the court must make one in every applicable case if it considers that it would help prevent further antisocial behaviour. The Judicial Studies Board is producing a new updated antisocial behaviour training programme for magistrates, which will feature ISOs, and incorporate them within practical training exercises to assist magistrates in fulfilling their statutory duty.
	We provided £500,000 to YJB in June 2005 to fund ISOs. Funding for this financial year and from now on is available through the £45 million uplift given to the Youth Justice Board as part of their youth prevention budget.
	The funding is allocated to Youth Offending Teams based on a formula and they have submitted plans to the Youth Justice Board on how they plan to spend it—some have specific ISO schemes and others have looked to embed the work into Youth Inclusion Support Panels.

National Identity Register

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines the Government has in place to regulate  (a) which bodies will have access to the National Identity Register and  (b) how these bodies will be able to use this information; and if he will make a statement.

Joan Ryan: The Identity Cards Act 2006 does not provide for any direct access to information on the National Identity Register (NIR) for organisations, either with or without the consent of the individual. The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) intends to provide an identity verification service. This does not provide direct access to the NIR but rather it intends to verify an individual's identity in a method appropriate to the situation, ranging from an electronic card authentication to the provision of information to an organisation based on a specific request.
	The Identity Cards Act 2006 establishes a number of conditions and safeguards regarding the use of the identity verification service by organisations.
	It is expected that most identity checks will be done with the consent of the individual. Section 12 covers the provision of information with the consent of the individual. It limits the information that may be provided to organisations as part of a verification check with consent and also allows for regulations to be made prescribing how the individual's authority and consent for the provision of information is to be given. Private sector companies will only be permitted to use identity services with the consent of the individual and thus, are regulated under this section.
	Sections 13-16 cover the use of identity services in relation to the provision of public services. These sections ensure that the use of identity services by public service providers must be approved by Parliament by affirmative order and may also be subject to consultation with the users of that service before it can commence.
	Powers to provide information from the NIR without consent are strictly limited and laid out in Sections 17-21. Information may be disclosed without consent to Security and Intelligence Agencies for the purposes of carrying out their functions. The Police and the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs may also be provided with information held on the scheme but the type of information and the circumstances in which it may be provided are limited under Section 17(3) and 17(4). Furthermore, Section 18(4) limits the provision of information on when a person's record on the Register has been checked to purposes connected with the prevention and detection of serious crime alone. Under Section 17(5) and 20(1), the provision of information without consent to any other government department or public authority could not occur unless it had been approved by Parliament by affirmative order.
	The Act also provides for the accreditation of organisations before they can be provided with information from an individual's record from the NIR. The accreditation process will establish the business need for the information and whether their internal systems and procedures are satisfactory. The process will also establish the terms and conditions under which an organisation can use the identity services offered by IPS.
	With regard to the use of this information by organisations, there are also a number of safeguards.
	Firstly, user organisations will continue to be subject to the provisions of the Data Protection Act 1998 in how they handle any information received from a verification check. Thus, the safeguards within that Act and the independent oversight of the Information Commissioner in relation to its provisions will apply.
	Secondly, the National Identity Scheme Commissioner (NISC) or, where appropriate, the Intelligence Services Commissioner will provide independent oversight as to how the National Identity Scheme operates and the uses to which ID cards are put. The NISC will publish a report every year, which will be laid before Parliament.
	Thirdly, IPS will also reserve the right to audit any user organisation's processes to ensure they remain compliant with the terms and conditions of the use of the identity verification services.
	Finally, Section 21 of the Identity Cards Act provides for the establishment of restrictions on how the provision of information without consent may operate, which may include stipulations that only certain ranks or postholders in an organisation are permitted to receive any information provided after a request for information from the NIR.

Opiate Products

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if his Department, subject to quality and quota restrictions, will permit manufacturers of opiate products for medicinal use in acute pain relief and long-term palliative care to import the restricted raw materials they need from approved sources in the European Economic Association or from countries where a high level of institutional co-operation exists; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: Importation policy is governed by United Nations single convention on narcotic drugs, 1961 which calls on governments to restrict international trade to the minimum necessary to meet countries' medical needs. The policy also takes account of the United Kingdom's obligations to the European Union and to the European Economic Association. Imports from EU and EEA countries can therefore be considered.
	There is no basis for importation from any other source irrespective of levels of institutional co-operation.

Penal Policy

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has commissioned into the effect of levels of incarceration on the rate of criminal activity.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Currently no research is being carried out on the effect of levels of incarceration on the rate of criminal activity. Some work previously carried out in 2003 for the correctional services review ("Managing Offenders, Reducing Crime" by Patrick Carter) estimated that the increased use of prison in England and Wales since 1997 had reduced crime by around five per cent. However, international evidence shows no consistent relationship between levels of incarceration and crime.

Police

Maria Miller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his Written Statement of 20 March 2006,  Official Report, columns 6-7W, on Police Force Restructuring, 
	(1)  what reasons underlay his decision not to restructure Hampshire Police; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what reasons underlay his decision not to restructure Hampshire Police; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Home Secretary's decision to allow Hampshire Police to remain as a stand alone force was informed by the professional advice of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary that the force has the capacity, capability and resilience to provide protective services to national standards.
	The decision further took into account:
	the business case submitted by Hampshire Police which set out planned reforms to further develop its provision of protective services and neighbourhood policing;
	financial assessments of the case commissioned by the Home Office; and
	the need to establish a balanced and resilient regional and national policing landscape.
	The Home Secretary has made it clear that he believes that the establishment of strategic police forces through the merger of existing police areas is the basis for a reformed, fully effective police service in the future and in particular is the necessary step to enhance the stability of local neighbourhood policing, and that he wishes to carefully review the restructuring programme before making announcements on the best way forward.

Prisons

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have absconded from each open prison in England in each year since 1997; how many have been recaptured; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: There have been 7,105 absconds from open prisons in England since one April 1997. A break down of the number of prisoners who have absconded from each open prison over the last five years is given in the following table.
	Available data indicates that 356 prisoners remain unlawfully at large from those who absconded from English open prisons since one April 1997. The police are notified when prisoners abscond and their details are entered on the police national computer.
	Absconds from open prisons in England between 1997-98 and 2005-06.
	
		
			  Absconds from open prisons in England between 1997-98 and 2005-06. 
			   North Sea Camp  Sudbury  Hollesley Bay  Askham Grange  East Sutton Park  Morton Hall  Ford  Standford Hill 
			 1997-98 25 81 13 35 5 20 53 35 
			 1998-99 32 75 25 17 3 15 40 40 
			 1999-2000 27 63 11 20 3 23 68 43 
			 2000-01 24 69 24 21 3 6 57 29 
			 2001-02 36 81 8 19 3 — 57 37 
			 2002-03 34 68 14 12 — — 91 83 
			 2003-04 79 75 36 31 1 — 142 89 
			 2004-05 33 77 32 12 2 — 110 39 
			 2005-06 49 76 16 14 4 — 96 58 
		
	
	
		
			   Kirkham  Thorn Cross  Leyhill  Spring Hill  Hewell Grange  Moorland  Wealstun  Total 
			 1997-98 234 168 20 20 13 1 48 771 
			 1998-99 202 135 25 9 25 1 70 714 
			 1999-2000 171 147 34 14 11 — 72 707 
			 2000-01 169 110 25 14 24 — 105 680 
			 2001-02 163 135 19 12 8 — 79 657 
			 2002-03 208 152 33 23 14 — 101 833 
			 2003-04 213 130 114 60 36 68 144 1,218 
			 2004-05 120 90 102 36 32 73 74 832 
			 2005-06 74 105 66 34 24 49 28 693

Prisons

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people convicted of (a) murder,  (b) rape and  (c) robbery have absconded from English prisons in each year from 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Absconds can only take place from open prisons and only prisoners who are category D, the lowest security category, can be placed in open conditions. Open prisons take prisoners who are nearing completion of their sentence in preparation for their release. As part of the categorisation process prisoners are subject to a rigorous and robust risk assessment. Only those assessed as not being a risk to the public and of low risk of escape will be categorised as D.
	Available data indicate that 1,018 prisoners have absconded since 1997 who were serving sentences for murder, rape or robbery. A break down of these is given in the following table. The police are notified when prisoners abscond and their details are entered on the police national computer.
	
		
			  Prisoners convicted of murder, rape and robbery who absconded from English prisons between 
			   Number of absconders convicted of Murder  Number of absconders convicted of Rape  Number of absconders convicted of Robbery 
			 1997-98 5 — 46 
			 1998-99 12 1 46 
			 1999-00 13 1 92 
			 2000-01 19 1 86 
			 2001-02 17 0 85 
			 2002-03 16 1 114 
			 2003-04 19 1 175 
			 2004-05 16 1 119 
			 2005-06 17 1 114 
			 Total 134 7 877

Prisons

Nick Herbert: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners held in Ford prison while awaiting deportation or being considered for deportation  (a) have absconded in 2006 and (b) absconded in each of the last five years.

Gerry Sutcliffe: holding answer 5 June 2006
	To date in 2006, 61 prisoners have absconded from Ford open prisons. 33 of these are foreign nationals, 19 were being considered for enforcement proceedings by immigration and nationality directorate and one was going to be deported. Information about the deportation status of prisoners who absconded prior to 2006 is not held centrally by the Prison Service and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Security Industry Authority

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licence applications to the Security Industry Authority have been rejected in the last 12 months  (a) because the form was not correctly completed,  (b) because the accompanying documents were not adequate and  (c) on substantive grounds because the applicant was not a personwho should be licensed; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: This information is not held centrally. However, the Security Industry Authority has worked closely with the industry to implement changes which have successfully reduced the rejection rate from 50 per cent. in January 2006 to approximately 20 per cent. at the beginning of March. There are a little over 12,000 applications recorded as rejected and awaiting re-submission from the applicant. As at 31 May, 4,042 licences had been refused on substantive grounds namely that the applicant had a criminal history.

Serious Organised Crime Agency

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department which posts in the Serious and Organised Crime Agency are vacant; and what grade each is.

Vernon Coaker: The Serious Organised Crime Agency was established on 1 April 2006 with a staff of around 4,300, the vast majority of who came from the precursor agencies. SOCA has identified a shortage of up to 150 posts in some specific skills at grades 1-3, across operational and corporate services directorates, which it is now seeking to fill through external recruitment and internal promotion and staff moves.

Shoplifting

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many shoplifting cases were brought before the courts in each of the last 10 years; how many cases in each year led to  (a) an acquittal and  (b) a conviction; and how many of those defendants were facing their first criminal charge.

Gerry Sutcliffe: Information held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform on the number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts, acquitted and found guilty at all courts for 'theft from shops' for the years 1994 to 2004 in England and Wales, are provided in the following table.
	It is not possible to identify how many defendants were facing their first criminal charge from the data held on the court proceedings database. data for 2005 will be available in the autumn.
	
		
			  Number of defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts, found guilty or acquitted at all courts of 'theft from Shops'( 1)  England and Wales, 1994-2004 
			   Proceeded against( 2)  Found guilty  Acquitted (magistrates' court)( 3)  Acquitted (Crown court 
			 1994 60,019 48,863 1,444 402 
			 1995 61,468 50,435 1,247 380 
			 1996 65,220 54,102 1,327 384 
			 1997 69,666 58,401 1,348 382 
			 1998 77,915 66,690 1,507 352 
			 1999 85,491 74,350 1,573 339 
			 2000 89,050 77,542 1,637 316 
			 2001 92,233 79,933 1,937 319 
			 2002 92,664 80,167 1,964 271 
			 2003 86,089 74,928 1,700 268 
			 2004 78,241 69,542 1,394 225 
			 (1 )These data are provided on the principal offence basis  (2 )The prosecution figures include cases that were discontinued or withdrawn at the magistrates' court as well as cases that were committed to the Crown Court but not tried.  (3 )Offenders who were discharged or had cases dismissed at magistrates' courts   Source:  RDS-Office for Criminal Justice Reform

Stansted Hijacking

Douglas Carswell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his Department has received evidence that the Stansted hijacking was also part of a people smuggling operation; and if he will make a statement.

Vernon Coaker: We have received no evidence that the Stansted Hijacking was part of a people smuggling operation. Our current understanding is that the purpose of the hijack was to claim asylum.

UK Passports

Gregory Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many UK passports were reported  (a) lost and  (b) stolen in Northern Ireland in each of the last three years.

Joan Ryan: holding answer 7 June 2006
	It is not possible for the UK Passport Service to identify exactly how many passports were reportedly lost or stolen in Northern Ireland. However, the Belfast passport office, which serves the Northern Ireland area, processed the following reports of  (a) loss and  (b) theft of a passport for the calendar years of 2004, 2005 and 2006 to date.
	
		
			  Belfast 
			   Lost  Stolen 
			 2004 9,496 1,959 
			 2005 9,615 1,117 
			 2006 (to date) 4,329 473 
		
	
	The total figures across the UK for the last three years are as follows:
	
		
			  UK 
			   Lost  Stolen  Other  Total 
			 2003 184,301 
			 2004 212,745 50,737 11,558 275,040 
			 2005 230,011 45,709 11,268 286,988 
			 2006 (to 6 June) 96,292 16,037 4,712 117,041

Workers Registration Scheme

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to revise the Workers Registration Scheme to  (a) increase the level of registration and  (b) reduce illegal working.

Liam Byrne: In developing and implementing the Worker Registration Scheme (WRS) we have sought to strike the right balance between the objective of monitoring the labour market impact of enlargement and avoiding unnecessary bureaucracy. The Government believe that the WRS has worked well to date as a means of monitoring impacts and as a safeguard against illegal working and fraudulent access to benefits. However, we will continue to keep the need for the scheme under review.

Afghanistan

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if she will make a statement on progress made in training Afghan police in Helmand province.

Kim Howells: The Government of Afghanistan's National Police Reform Programme has not, up to now, reached the southern provinces and training of the National Afghan Police (ANP) in Helmand Province has been slow. This has been largely due to the difficult security situation in southern Afghanistan which has hampered the International Community's efforts to provide training and follow-up support. Since the establishment of the UK led Provincial Reconstruction Team in Helmand on 1 May 2006, the UK has been working closely with the provincial government and the Ministry of Interior to accelerate progress. At the beginning of this year there were around 1,700 ANP in Helmand, of varying levels of expertise. Many will need additional training. Approximately 200 additional trained ANP officers have since been redeployed from elsewhere in Afghanistan to reinforce the current force levels while new recruits are trained and equipped under the German/US police training programme. The pay and rank review currently underway will determine the final shape of the police structure in Helmand.

Eritrea

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions the British Embassy in Eritrea has had with the Eritrean Government about the imprisonment of Eritrean citizens for belonging to Christian churches not recognised by the Government.

Geoff Hoon: We remain concerned by reports of state interference in religious affairs and lack of freedom of worship in Eritrea. We monitor closely action taken by the authorities against members of minority religious groups not recognised by the Government of Eritrea.
	Officials from our Embassy in Asmara continue to raise these issues with the Eritrean Government. As local EU presidency, the UK also conveys the EU's concerns, including through the EU-Eritrea Political dialogue on Constitutional and Human Rights. My noble Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, wrote to President Isaias on 6 October expressing our concern and has raised this with the Eritrean Ambassador.

Parliamentary Questions

David Amess: To ask the Prime Minister when he will answer Question 70378, on the House of LordsAct 1999, tabled on 11 May by the hon. Member for Southend, West; what the reason is for the delay in replying; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I have replied to the hon. Member today.

Legal Services Commission

John Baron: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many people with a medical or scientific background are employed by the Legal Services Commission to assess the validity of claims.

Vera Baird: holding answer 5 June 2006
	The Legal Services Commission (LSC) does not seek to recruit people with a medical or scientific background to assess the validity of claims to Legal Aid, however the LSC has the power to obtain reports from independent experts to inform decision making.

Engagements

Norman Baker: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will list his official engagements for each day since4 May;

Theresa May: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  if he will list the meetings he will be  (a) chairing and  (b) attending in the week commencing Monday 15 May as part of his official duties;
	(2)  if he will list his official engagements for the week commencing 15 May;

Peter Bone: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister (1) if he will list his engagements relating to his responsibilities for overseeing the efficient development of Government policy in the week beginning 15 May.

John Prescott: I have had a number of official engagements since 4 May, including meetings with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, other members of Cabinet and a range of Government officials, as is usual in the discharge of my official duties. I have also been present in the House for a range of Government business.
	In addition, I have been on an official visit to Finland in preparation for their forthcoming presidency of the European Union, where I met the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and Minister of Trade and Industry amongst other dignitaries.
	On behalf of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, I have chaired a meeting of the British Irish Council and very recently been on an official visit to Canada and the U.S.

Avian Influenza

John Spellar: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Answer to the hon. Member for Hornsey and Wood Green (Lynne Featherstone) of27 March 2006,  Official Report, column 779W, on avian influenza, where the influenza vaccine under the contract awarded to Baxter and Chiron will be manufactured.

Caroline Flint: Chiron manufactures the H5N1 vaccine in Italy. Baxter ferments the H5N1 vaccine in the Czech Republic and final packaging takes place in Austria.

Community Nursing

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment she has made of the impact of Agenda for Change on  (a) community nurses and  (b) community nursing posts.

Rosie Winterton: From the available evidence, where job evaluation outcomes and headcount of staff are both considered community nursing posts have proportionately higher outcomes than nurses working in the acute sector. This is likely to be due to the added level of autonomy required. NHS employers are supporting organisations, via strategic health authorities, to assess properly the impact of agenda for change.

Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to reply to the letter of26 April 2006 from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire on avian influenza.

Rosie Winterton: A reply to this letter was sent on 8 June 2006.

Correspondence

Michael Spicer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she expects to reply to the letter of25 April 2006 from the hon. Member for West Worcestershire regarding a constituent.

Rosie Winterton: This letter was replied to on25 May 2006.

Departmental Report

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the consultations undertaken by her Department covering the period of the Departmental Report 2006; what steps she is  (a) taking and  (b) plans to take to meet the 12 week minimum period; and if she will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Consultations launched between1 April 2005 and 31 March 2006 are shown in the table.
	The Department seeks through guidance to staff and through a gateway process covering communications with the national health service to ensure that consultations meet the 12-week minimum period. In the coming year, the Department plans to update its guidance on consultations and promote good practice through communications with staff.
	
		
			  Department of Health public consultations—launched between 1 April 2005 and 31 March 2006 
			  Title  Launch date  Closing date  Consultation period (weeks) 
			 Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians order 2006: A paper for consultation 27 March 2006 19 June 2006 12 
			 Science and innovation investment framework 2004-2014: next steps—A consultation 22 March 2006 16 June 2006 12 
			 Department of Health draft simplification plan 21 March 2006 20 June 2006 13 
			 Code of Practice for the Mental Capacity Act 2005: A consultation 9 March 2006 4 June 2006 12 
			 National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE): Selection of topics: A consultation paper 6 March 2006 9 June 2006 13 
			 Informing healthier choices: Information and intelligence for healthy populations—A consultation 3 March 2006 5 May 2006 9 
			 European Commission Green Paper—Improving the mental health of the population: towards a strategy on mental health for the European Union 1 February 2006 30 April 2006 12 
			 Proposed changes to residential care charges from April 2006 24 January 2006 7 March 2006 6 
			 United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) on HIV/AIDS—UK Report on progress 10 January 2006 11 April 2006 13 
			 Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) (Amendment) Regulations 2006: A consultation 9 January 2006 10 April 2006 13 
			 Care homes: Provision of information about prices/fees 19 December 2005 10 February 2006 8 
			 Configuration of NHS Ambulance Trusts in England 14 December 2005 22 March 2006 14 
			 HIV related stigma and discrimination: Action plan 1 December 2005 31 March 2006 17 
			 Consultation on obesity care pathway and resources for primary care 1 December 2005 22 December 2005 3 
			 Proposals for amending Firecode: A consultation 28 November 2005 10 February 2006 12 
			 Competence and curriculum framework for the medical care practitioner: a consultation 4 November 2005 10 February 2006 14 
			 Safe management of healthcare waste: a public consultation 1 November 2005 7 February 2006 14 
			 Medical Act 1983 (Amendment) and Miscellaneous Amendments Order 2006: A paper for consultation 31 October 2005 31 January 2006 13 
			 Draft cancer research network measures for the Manual for Cancer Services 2004: consultation 28 October 2005 27 January 2006 13 
			 Arrangements for the Provision of Dressings, Incontinence Appliances, Stoma Appliances, Chemical Reagents and Other Appliances to Primary and Secondary Care 24 October 2005 23 January 2006 13 
			 Proposed changes to the regulatory framework for adult social care services 14 October 2005 14 January 2006 13 
			 UK consultation on European Commission proposal for a programme of community action in the field of health and consumer protection 2007-13 10 October 2005 6 January 2006 12 
			 Consultation on the future governance arrangements for the National Institute for Biological Standards and Control (NIBSC) 10 October 2005 31 December 2005 12 
			 Draft Revised Colorectal Measures for the Manual for Cancer Services 2004 30 September 2005 30 December 2005 13 
			 Your health, your care, your say 14 September 2005 4 November 2005 8 
			 Reimbursement of 'standard' branded generic medicines: A further consultation launch date 12 September 2005 close date 24 October 2005 12 September 2005 24 October 2005 6 
			 Proposals to simplify the reimbursement arrangements for NHS dispensing contractors: A consultation 7 September 2005 30 November 2005 12 
			 Review of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act: A public consultation 16 August 2005 25 November 2005 15 
			 The acutely or critically sick or injured child in the District General Hospital: A team response 15 August 2005 31 December 2005 19 
			 Code of Conduct for Payment by Results: Draft for consultation 4 August 2005 4 November 2005 12 
			 Draft advice on Permanent Seed Implant Brachytherapy Services for localised prostate cancer in England: A consultation 4 August 2005 28 October 2005 12 
			 Best research for best health: A new National Health Research Strategy—the NHS contribution to health research in England: A consultation 29 July 2005 21 October 2005 12 
			 Chief Nursing Officer's review of mental health nursing: A consultation 28 July 2005 21 October 2005 12 
			 Proposals to reform and modernise pharmaceutical services legislation in England closed 20 September 2005 (launch 26 July) 26 July 2005 20 September 2005 9 
			 Action on health care associated infection (HCAI) in England 15 July 2005 23 September 2005 10 
			 Human Tissue Act 2004: Draft Regulations for consultation 12 July 2005 4 October 2005 12 
			 Consultation on the draft National Health Service (Dental Charges) Regulation 2006 7 July 2005 30 September 2005 12 
			 Consultation on the Independent Mental Capacity Advocate (IMCA) service 5 July 2005 30 September 2005 12 
			 Draft cancer registry measures for the Manual for Cancer Services 2004: consultation 4 July 2005 7 October 2005 13 
			 Draft Head and Neck Measures for the Manual for Cancer Services 2004: consultation 4 July 2005 7 October 2005 13 
			 Safer management of controlled drugs: Draft guidance on strengthened governance arrangements 4 July 2005 30 September 2005 12 
			 Records Management: NHS Code of Practice consultation closed 30 June 2005 30 September 2005 13 
			 Consultation on the smokefree elements of the Health Improvement and Protection Bill 20 June 2005 5 September 2005 12 
			 NHS Emergency Planning Guidance 2005 9 June 2005 8 September 2005 12 
		
	
	Total consultations: 44
	Number of consultations 12 weeks or over: 36
	Percentage of consultations 12 weeks or over: 82
	 Note:
	The information for Cm 6814, "The Department of Health Annual Report and Accounts 2006", was prepared before the end of March 2006. Consequently, information on two consultations listed above was not available.

Health Funding (Gloucestershire)

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will take steps to reduce the gap in health funding between Gloucestershire and the national average; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The aim of the weighted-capitation formula, which informs revenue allocations to primary care trusts (PCTs), is to provide equal access for equal need in all parts of the country, and to reduce health inequalities.
	The components of the formula weight each PCTs' crude population, according to their relative need (age, and additional need) for healthcare and the unavoidable geographical differences in the cost of providing healthcare (the market forces factor).
	The weighted-capitation formula is used to set targets, it does not determine allocations. Actual allocations reflect decisions on the speed at which PCTs are brought nearer to target through the distribution of extra funds (pace of change policy).
	To ensure equity in funding, the pace of change policy for the 2006-08 revenue allocations has moved more quickly towards their fair share of funds. In 2003-04, the most under target PCT was 22 per cent. under target. By 2007-08, no PCT will be more than .5 per cent. below its fair share.
	The following table shows the 2006-07 and 2007-08 revenue allocations made to PCTs in Gloucestershire.
	
		
			   2006-07 allocation  2007-08 allocation  Two year increase  2007-08 closing DFT 
			  PCT  £000  £000  £000  Percentage  Percentage 
			 Cheltenham and Tewkesbury 181,446 198,605 32,341 19.5 -0.2 
			 Cotswold and Vale 222,132 240,253 34,858 17.0 3.3 
			 South Gloucestershire 250,189 275,190 45,949 20.0 -0.8 
			 West Gloucestershire 266,091 292,350 48,551 19.9 -1.3

Medical Errors

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many patients underwent the wrong procedures due to medical errors in each of the last10 years;
	(2)  how many patients died due to medical errors in hospitals in each of the last 10 years.

Andy Burnham: The Department does not centrally collect data on the number of patients who underwent the wrong procedures or died due to medical errors in hospitals.
	The Government are, however, concerned about national health service patients affected by adverse events and that is why it established the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) in July 2001 and asked it to set up a national reporting and learning system (NRLS) for patient safety incidents. This system is now in place across the NHS all trusts have been connected and reporting to the system from late 2005. Data collected by the NPSA are based on incidents reported by NHS staff.
	From November 2003 to the end of May 2006 there were 2,575 incidents reported as wrong or inappropriate treatment or procedure in the surgical and anaesthetic specialties. In 1,918 cases (74.5 per cent.), there was no reported harm to the patient, in 437 cases (17 per cent.) low harm, 179 cases (7 per cent.) moderate harm, 35 cases (1.4 per cent.) severe harm and in six cases (0.2 per cent.) it was reported that the patient died.
	Data on deaths due to medical errors in acute hospitals over the last 10 years is not available. In July 2005, the NPSA published Building a memory: preventing harm, reducing risks and improving patient safety. The first report of the National Reporting and Learning System and the Patient Safety Observatory. At the time of publication, the NPSA estimated that the annual figures for NHS acute hospitals in England would be in the order of 840 patient safety incident-related deaths from 572,000 reported incidents from acute hospitals each year in England. The estimate was derived from 18 acute hospitals consistently reporting to the NPSA from October to December 2004 and was adjusted for variations in reporting, as well as deaths which had been incorrectly labelled as patient safety incidents. The estimates covers all patient safety incident- related deaths including those due to medical errors in acute hospitals.
	The NPSA is due to publish a second report with its latest analysis of all patient safety incidents shortly.

NHS Finance

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the Statement of 12 April, whether she expects that  (a) turnaround organisations and  (b) all primary care trusts and NHS trusts which are overspending (i) will show improvement during 2006-07 and (ii) by the end of the year should have monthly income covering monthly expenditure.

Andy Burnham: The aim is for the national health service as a whole to return to net financial balance by the end of 2006-07.
	We are aiming for all NHS organisations with deficits to have monthly balance of income over expenditure by April 2007. There will be some exceptional cases where an organisation needs longer to make the necessary changes, while still maintaining patient care. However, because over-spending by one organisation has to be balanced by under-spending elsewhere, we will continue to challenge and expert organisations to return to monthly balance as quickly as possible.

NHS Pension Scheme

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether the NHS Pension Scheme is funded; and what the contribution level of the scheme is.

Rosie Winterton: The NHS Pension Scheme is an unfunded scheme. Employers pay 14 per cent. of the pensionable pay into the scheme and employees pay6 per cent., apart from manual staff who pay 5 per cent.

Notifiable Diseases

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what factors were taken into account when deciding not to include the  (a) HIV and  (b) H5N1 viruses on the list of notifiable diseases;
	(2)  which sexually transmitted diseases  (a) are and  (b) are not on the list of notifiable diseases; and what criteria are used when deciding which diseases to include.

Caroline Flint: Under the Public Health (Control of Disease) Act 1984, there is a requirement to notify local authorities of cases of certain infectious diseases so that they can consider whether to use the measures to control disease that the Act provides. Section 11 of the Act sets out the procedure for notifying the relevant local authority of cases of cholera, plague, relapsing fever, smallpox, typhus and food poisoning. Regulations made under the Act (the Public Health (Infectious Diseases) Regulations 1988) apply section 11 to certain other infectious diseases(1).
	However, statutory notification of specified infectious diseases is only one of a range of methods by which epidemiological surveillance and control of infectious diseases are carried out. HIV, sexually transmitted infections and H5N1 are not notifiable diseases(2).
	For HIV, local and national data are collected from several sources including reporting of diagnosed cases by clinicians and laboratories and by unlinked anonymous surveys of HIV prevalence in population sub-groups, such as genito-urinary medicine (GUM) clinic attendees and injecting drug users in contact with specialist services. Similarly, for other sexually transmitted infections, there are other surveillance methods used including returns from GUM clinics of episodes of sexually transmitted infections and the national Chlamydia screening programme.
	Making HIV and other sexually transmitted infections notifiable might raise concerns about patient confidentiality and could deter individuals at risk of infection from seeking advice, testing and specialist care.
	H5N1 infection does not readily pass from birds to humans and there is currently no evidence that this pathogen is capable of spreading from person-to-person efficiently nor of sustaining such transmission. This infection can only be diagnosed by laboratory confirmation of the pathogen as the clinical illness has similarities with several other infections. H5N1 infection in birds or poultry, which comes within the definition of avian influenza, is notifiable as a disease of animals and as an animal disease that may transmit to humans. This allows measures to be put in place to reduce the risk of spread to other birds or poultry and to humans.
	(1) Acute encephalitis, acute poliomyelitis, anthrax, diphtheria, dysentery (amoebic or bacillary), leprosy, leptospirosis, malaria, measles, meningitis, meningococcal septicaemia (without meningitis), mumps, ophthalmia neonatorum, paratyphoid fever, rabies, rubella, scarlet fever, tetanus, tuberculosis (where the opinion of the registered medical practitioner that the person is suffering from tuberculosis is formed from evidence not solely derived from tuberculin tests, typhoid fever, viral haemorrhagic fever, viral hepatitis, whooping cough, and yellow fever.
	(2 )Viral hepatitis is statutorily notifiable and can be transmitted sexually. However, apart from hepatitis B virus, sexual transmission is not the most important mode of infection.

Sexual Health

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action the Government have taken to improve sexual health by providing strongly focused prevention messages as identified in the Government's response to the Health Select Committee Report on New Developments in Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Policy (Cm 6649).

Caroline Flint: To inform the new safer sex campaign the Department has undertaken market research on what messages are most effective in promoting safer sex to sexually active young adults in addition to consultations with sexual health professionals, potential commercial partners and voluntary sector organisations who will have a role to play in the campaigns successful delivery. Other action to improve sexual health includes investment to improve and modernise sexual health services and the prioritisation of sexual health and access to genito-urinary services as one of the six key actions for national health service for 2006-07.

Therapeutic Services

David Evennett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what publicly funded therapeutic services are available for victims of sexual abuse; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: There are a very substantial number of voluntary sector organisations providing therapeutic services for victims of sexual violence and abuse in receipt of recent, current and newly allocated public funding. Some of these have been or are in receipt of Section 64 funding from the Department. These number 10 and are shown in the table which includes the name of the organisation, the purpose of the grant, the year and the amount of the funding provided.
	A larger number of voluntary sector organisations have been in receipt of funding from the Home Office's victims fund grant. The total Home Office provision for victims of sexual offending was 46 organisations in 2004-05, 62 organisations in 2005-06, and 45 organisations in 2006-07. Tables providing the name of the organisation, the year and the amount of funding have been placed in the Library.
	The Department and Home Office work closely together on improving services for victims of sexual crime and the Department contributes to the decisions taken by the Home Office in the allocation of the victims fund grant.
	
		
			  Current/recent awards from Department of Health Section 64 general scheme of grants for mental health voluntary and community sector organisations providing therapeutic services for victims of abuse 
			  Funding (£) 
			  Name of organisation/Name of grant  2002-03  2003-04  2004-05  2005-06  2006-07  2007-08  2008-09 
			  Asian Family Counselling Service
			 Aastha project — — — 31,000 53,000 43,000 — 
			 Core funding — 30,000 28,000 26,000 — — — 
			 
			  Bristol Crisis Service for Women
			 Self-injury information service project 27,750 35,000 35,000 9,250 — — — 
			 Evaluation of self-injury information service project — — — 35,000 — — — 
			 
			  Eating Disorders Association
			 Network capacity -building project — — 38,000 35,000 35,000 — — 
			 New core grant — — — 27,000 25,000 23,000 — 
			 Pathways to recovery project — — — — 38,062 44,982 48,242 
			 
			  Medical Foundation for the Care of Victims of Torture
			 Training co-ordinator project — — 30,000 30,000 30,000 — — 
			 
			  National Association for People Abused in Childhood
			 NAPAC 50,000 50,000 50,000 — — — — 
			 InfoLine — — — — — — — 
			 
			  Southall Black Sisters
			 Black and minority ethnic women and girls, domestic violence and mental health project — — — 50,000 50,000 — — 
			 
			  The Ivors Trust
			 Core grant — — — 28,000 — — — 
			 
			  Survivors UK
			 Core — — 28,000 — — — — 
			 
			  Survivors UK
			 Male survivors mental health project 15,225 40,000 40,000 31,775 — — — 
			 
			  WISH (Women in Special Hospitals)
			 New core — — 46,000 40,000 30,000 — — 
			 Women moving on project — — — 30,000 33,000 — — 
			 
			  WITNESS (formerly POPAN)
			 Practice advice and support line project 15,954 60,000 60,000 48,046 — — — 
			 Advocacy and support project — 45,000 43,000 41,000 — — — 
			 Core — — 60,000 55,000 50,000 — —

Coastal Monitoring

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many HM Revenue and Customs staff were allocated to the monitoring of the coasts of  (a) Wales,  (b) Scotland and  (c) the South West in each year since 2001.

Dawn Primarolo: At present HM Revenue and Customs has some 1,200 Intelligence and 4,500 frontline Detection staff whose role includes monitoring movements across all UK frontiers.
	Previous years figures are shown in the table.
	
		
			   Detection  Intelligence 
			 2002-2003 3,790 1,323 
			 2003-2004 3,754 1,312 
			 2004-2005 3,910 1,295 
			 2005-2006 4,256 1,226 
		
	
	HM Revenue and Customs does not specifically allocate staff to any particular coastline.

EU Funding

Matthew Taylor: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the level of European Union funding allocated to Cornwall in each of the last five years.

Margaret Hodge: I have been asked to reply.
	The following table shows the Structural Funds allocations to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly for the current 2000-06 funding period.
	The United Kingdom will receive a total of approximately 9.4 billion euros (in 2004 prices) in Structural Funds receipts from 2007-13, in comparison with 16.6 billion euros (in 1999 prices) in the current Financial Perspective. This will include a total of approximately 2.6 billion euros in Convergence funding for its poorest regions, including Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. We estimate that Cornwall's allocation for 2007-13 will be approximately a third higher than its current receipts.
	Further background and details of the United Kingdom's future Structural Funds receipts were provided in my right hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff South and Penarth written statement of 20 December 2005.
	
		
			  Annual Structural Funds allocations to Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly 
			   2004 prices 
			   € million  £ million( 1) 
			 2000 80.2 55.3 
			 2001 78.8 54.4 
			 2002 77.3 53.3 
			 2003 75.8 52.3 
			 2004 75.9 52.3 
			 2005 81.3 56.1 
			 2006 80.6 55.6 
			 2000-06 550.0 379.3 
			 (1 )Using the exchange rate £1= 1.45 euro.

HM Revenue and Customs Staff

John Pugh: To ask The Chancellor of the Exchequer how the number of people employed as HM Revenue and Customs officers has changed in the last 5 years.

Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs became a legal entity on 18 April 2005. Before then its business had been conducted by the Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise.
	The numbers of staff employed in Civil Service departments and agencies, including the Inland Revenue, HM Customs and Excise and HM Revenue and Customs are available on the Cabinet Office's "Civil Service Statistics" website at:
	http://www.civilservice.gov.uk/management/statistics/index.asp
	The effects of changes in departmental responsibilities on staff numbers are also available on the website.

Online Goods Declaration

Vincent Cable: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to the answer of 3 May 2006,  Official Report, column 1723W, on the online goods declaration, whether paragraph 6.15 of the Carver Report has been considered in relation to the HM Revenue and Customs free declaration service.

Dawn Primarolo: Lord Carter was asked to advise Ministers on measures to further increase the use of HMRC's self-assessment, VAT, corporation tax and PAYE online services. Lord Carter's report was published on Budget day alongside the Government response, these can be found at: www.hmrc.gov.uk/budget2006/carter-review.htm
	HMRC is now consulting with businesses, taxpayers, agents and software developers on the implementation of Lord Carter's recommendations.
	Online goods declarations were not within the remit of Lord Carter's review. However, HMRC are committed to reducing the customer's compliance burden and to help us do that we provide a range of electronic communications channels so that the customer can make an informed choice. Typically, this might include email, web interface and XML. HMRC will keep under active review whether or not they need to provide their own free online software or whether the software industry is able to sufficiently provide for the market while keeping customer compliance costs to a minimum.

Points of Entry (Revenue and Customs Cover)

Jim Cousins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many points of entry had permanent HM Revenue and Customs cover in each year since 2001.

Dawn Primarolo: HM Revenue and Customs aims to maintain a permanent cover of all points of entry into the UK through intelligence led and risk based interventions by flexible and mobile teams.
	More detailed information cannot be disclosed as this would provide information of value to those seeking to circumvent HM Revenue and Customs' controls, thereby prejudicing the prevention and detection of crime.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his latest estimate is of the cost of administering the tax credits system in  (a) 2005-06 and  (b) 2006-07; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: The cost of managing and paying the child and working tax credits in the financial years 2005-06 and 2006-07 will not be available until the Trust Statement for those years are released.

Tax Credits

David Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer 
	(1)  what his latest estimate is of the amount of tax credit overpayments in  (a) 2003-04 and  (b) 2004-05 which will be recovered;
	(2)  how much of the tax credit overpayments in  (a) 2003-04 and  (b) 2004-05 has been recovered to date; and if he will make a statement;

Dawn Primarolo: The expected year of recovery of overpayments and amounts for 2003-04 tax credit awards, including amount recovered in 2004-05, are provided in the Comptroller and Auditor General's Standard Report on the Accounts of the Inland Revenue 2004-05, which is available on the HMRC website at:
	http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/about/ir-report2005.pdf
	Figures for 2004-05 overpayments will not be available until the publication of the Comptroller and Auditor General's Standard Report on the Accounts of the H M Revenue and Customs 2005-06.

Tax Returns

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultation of accountancy firms was undertaken before the decision was made to change the deadline for filing tax returns from31 January each year.

Dawn Primarolo: The proposed changes to the filing date were recommended by Lord Carter's review of HMRC online services. As part of that independent review Lord Carter and his review team consulted widely. Written submissions were also invited and over 70 were received, including several from firms of accountants. The review team included three members of the accountancy profession from different sized firms.

Widowed Parents Allowance

Adam Price: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what criteria underlay the decision to class the widowed parents allowance as a second income; and if he will make a statement.

Dawn Primarolo: Widowed parent's allowance, which is paid by the Department of Work and Pensions, is taxable because, as a continuing benefit, it is intended to replace lost earnings. The allowance replaced widowed mother's allowance, in the Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992, which was also taxable.
	Earnings-replacement benefits are taxable. This ensures equality of tax treatment in the same year between someone whose income is all from earnings and someone with the same level of income but which is derived partly from earnings and partly from benefit.